9th Annual Remembrance Day hike (and canoe)

Back on track. After missing 2013 due to a work trip to DC, we managed to pull together a last minute plan for our annual Remembrance Day adventure. Kenmore and I mapped out an epic day alternating between canoeing and hiking in and around the Madawaska River.

Our first stop was short paddle from Cherry Point park on the Madawaska. Finally a chance to test out my new canoe. While my Old Town Tripper is a (nearly) untippable freighter, this Langford Prospector is as tippy as it is light. It will certainly take some getting used to but I'm already looking forward to the freedom it will give me in accessing some of those remote lakes that I see on my topo maps.

Back on land, we headed off down the road for some hiking on the old K&P Trail. I've only known this old railbed trail as the "Kick & Push" trail but apparently the correct title is the Kingston to Pembroke trail. Amazing what you can discover after reading signs that you took pictures of and finally pulled up on your computer screen. Lol.




While we did enjoy our short hike along this old railbed we had other plans and decided to move along a little further down the road to the Eagle's Nest trail. Parking our cars at the trailhead we were greeted by a hunter strapping down his ATV. After some reassurance on the safety of the trail despite the many hunters lurking about he left us with the famous quote from American Werewolf in London... "Stay on the road. Keep clear of the moors." Ok, maybe not the moors part but he did say to stay on the path. That said, Kenmore donned his blaze orange reflective vest while I opted to stay close to his side.




After soaking in the view at the Eagle's Nest we headed back to our vehicles and upstream to Slate Falls on the Madawaska River. This was our main destination of the day and what better spot to have lunch and relax to the sound of waterfalls. Relaxing now sure, but some 130 years ago this area was far from relaxing as it was bustling with lumberjacks some of whom lost their lives at this very site. What a life that must have been - the thrill and rush of adrenaline as they danced from log to log all for a bucket of oatmeal and a $1 a day.





A toast to the veterans who lost their lives serving their country.
A moment of silence to the loggers who drowned on this very spot.
And finally, cheers to Kenmore for joining me once again on this day of remembrance.

Here's a quick review of our Annual Remembrance Day hikes over the last few years.
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013... Alas, the streak was put on pause last year as my hiking was recorded solo in Washington, DC.